Best Fly Tying Vise Reviews 2019

Fly tying is an art and a vise is the most crucial tool for tying flies.

Choosing the bestfly tying vise, as with any other item, will depend on your level of intentions (medium / long term commitment) and your budget.

No matter what type of vise you will select, the end goal is to start tying and stocking up the fly boxes with these artificial lures. The one on the above photo is called the ​Griffin Odyssey Spider Cam Vise, which is a good example of a high-end, middle-of-the-road, well designed vise.

Our Top ​5 Fly Tying Vises: For Your Quick Decision

Fly tying is a simply a hobby for some people, a cost saving way for others, and a lucrative business for the professional tyer. A vise is the only tool that will cost you a bit in order to making your own flies. The other tools you use to assemble the fly tying materials; cost you very less than the vise. So don’t fool yourself by choosing a low quality vise that will break or stop working after few uses. Always keep in mind that you get what you pay for, and before you shop don’t forget to do your homework. You just make sure you are selecting the appropriate model for your type of work.

What Types of Vises are Good for Fly Tying?

What features make a fly tying vise great to recommend by other? Even what vise are suitable to use by most anglers?

Firstly, a great vise must hold different size and shape of hook sizes securely. If the vise won’t do that, look at another model.

Fly tyers like the vise which are durable and well made. The cheap vises tend to have soft metal that will crack, break or will get grooves in it over time.

It should be locked down tight after getting the flies on a hook.

Good vice jaws are easily adjusted to accept variety of hooks size. Small jaws are easier to work with.

360º true rotary vise are great which allow you to inspect fly from all angles.

Fly Tying Vise not only tie the fly but also helps congregate and tie up the materials on the hook

Top Fly Tying Vise Brands

When you are searching for the bestfly tying vises, it can be confusing as there are many well-known brands you will see. To make things easier for you below we have listed the most popular brands who are supply high quality models:

Best Fly Tying Vise under $100

The Fly Tying Crown Vise definitely gets the best score at an unbeatable price. Built with quality materials, unanimity in all reviews of the network: Crown Fly Tying Vise, with spring type clamps, gets the best score at an unbeatable price.

If we have a very limited budget, this is the option to not deprive us of starting to tie our first flies.

Best Fly Tying Vise under $150

You really can’t look past the Danica Danvise . Its design pulls back, and also has “plastic” parts (not actually plastic). However, it is 100% rotating, with two bearings, with good adjustment capability and ultralight. They speak very well of their C-Clamp and their gags (eye, all relative to the selling price)

Best Fly Tying Vise under $200

In this range, one of each type: the Atlas and Orvis Renzetti Traveler . The latter is certainly well known and endorsed, a safe bet. The Wooden Fly Tying Station, although known in the network (being perhaps a newer model), is also extraordinary tool used by fly tyer.

All these are very good options to start, and moving us on very affordable budgets to start. Without forgetting also that the models like the Atlas and Orvis Renzetti Traveler are of a great quality and we could have already tying for “all the life” without making a painful disbursement.

Our List of 10 Best Fly Tying Vise Reviews

For beginner fly tying, this handy fly tying vise is hard to beat. It’s 360 degree rotation enabled vise which allow you to spin the fly around any way you want. The adjustable bobbin cradle can be placed anywhere on the vise stem. I was impressed with this vise made from finest materials. Manufacturing quality is incredibly rigid and looks nice. Holds any size of hook very firmly. I tried to tie a size 10 and I was successful. This easy to use tool is a good compromise if you’re not willing to spend much on a vise.

We liked the fact that Griffin Odyssey Spider ​Cam Vise tool comes wit a c-clamp that is more stable and it is easy to adjust the height of the vice head. The down side is it’s sometimes hard to search out the spot to clamp to when tying.

No matter you are using C Clamp or pedestal base vise, the ultimate consideration should be how much comfortable it is for you when tying. If you always tie at home use a c-clamp, and for traveling buy another pedestal one. I have both.

Despite of being a newcomer in the vast array of fly tying industry, PEAK is getting a go-to brand to all the anglers and fly tyers. This finely engineered USA-made product came up with 2 different configurations for the same price. You can choose either c-clamp or pedestal base configuration at the same price range. The Stainless Steel, Brass, Tool Steel, and Aircraft Aluminum all made these vise solid and pleasing models for tying lovers. Meanwhile, its hardened and tempered tool steel jaws are efficient, which hold hooks from size 2 to 20. Additionally, the rotary function itself is excellent, give smooth experience for those who find fly tying a difficult task.

It doesn’t matter how hard you yank your thread, the vise will remain wherever you set it thanks to the heavy table top base. The included bobbin cradle is easily adjustable for height and length, Rotatable out of the way which is also snag free.The best thing about PEAK fishing products is that you can get a lifetime warranty in material or workmanship. So without a doubt this fly tying vise really is a long term investment in your tying activities

It’s a simple logic that we can’t buy one of each brand to choose the best vise. But if you can afford to test all of them available in high price, that’s totally okay with you.

However, for fear of a little lower quality construction, I keep my searching on till I meet Atlas Rotary Fly Tying Vise belongs to Wolff Industries. Different from Peak, Griffn and Danvise that also provide full rotary vises within the target budget, Anvil Atlas Rotary Vise doesn’t leave a lot to be desired and its adjustment isn’t puzzling.

Not to mention, it looks great, and the thing is working well without a single problem. This is exactly what I was looking for. If you are like me, want a vise that won’t ever break so that you can use it for years to come and even thinking of passing it on to your child when he grows up, it’s the most dependable tool.

Aesthetically enriched, this vase’s durability is made sealed by using Aluminum C-clamp and steel Jaws in its stainless steel rust-free construction. Pairing the device with the bobbin cradle helps us take the full advantage of the 360-degree rotary action.Important to realize, you use the correct slots in jaws for sturdy, smooth and balanced performance.

It possesses enough strength that ensures hassle-free tying of larger hook flies keeping the kit unbendable even under intense pressure.The base of this well-made vise is nice and heavy which you may prefer to mount with the C-clamp on your tying table. It does exactly what we usually expect from a rotary fly tying vise. All things considered, there’s no reason to buy another one that’s more expensive.

Available in right hand model, Renzetti Traveler 2000 Series featuring positive rotary option, comes with pedestal base or c-clamp. On the pedestal, you’ll get a thumb screw. By screwing it, the vise can be popped up from the base. So, setting it up again is also easy. There’s much to admire. The adjustable bobbin cradle is one of them. It spins all the way round. The vise also has got a thumb screw. By loosening it, you can raise and lower the bobbin cradle. Upward there, we have the rotary arm. The first thing you’ll notice about this is, how nice and smooth is it!

It has two screw adjustments above and a thumbscrew as well. Depending on the kind of the material, you can loosen or tighten the tension.Without compromising with the quality, Orvis offer both the beginner and the experienced tyer a true rotary vise that gives a satisfying tying experience. Long lasting aluminum anodized piece of equipment is also introduced in it. Over all, each necessary feature are induced in this vise to ensure a better performance.

People are used to be skeptical about the quality a vise and say you can’t find a standard kit unless you’re willing to break the $300 mark. But Wolff Industries has taken care of the serious tyers with tight budget. Apex Rotary Fly Tying Vise is among the best and moderate priced creations that Wolff is offering you with all the high-end feature you aim to get in a well-established fly tying vise.

Having an optimal amount of friction, the vise performs smooth while very accurate in rotation. It’s solidly built and can handle tiny and large flies with equal strength. This small, portable and stainless steel made vise is an original USA product and carries a lifetime warranty.This standard vise with in-line rotary is engineered for better inspection. You can turn the fly over while tying saltwater or large streamer patterns. Again, running them horizontally will allow the best result to come. Its steel jaws can securely hold hooks from 6/0 to 32. For best results, the grooves are attached with the jaws for easy holding of the larger hooks.Very much user friendly for both a right-handed person and a lefty.

So, you can adjust the vise according to your comfort by moving the knobs. It even comes with a large pedestal base as well as a nice machined C-Clamp which increase your opportunity to use it for both the options. Comparing in the light of quality and utilization, it functions almost like any other expensive vises available out there.

Among Regal’s top end fly tying vises, this one is likely the best rotary option. Though it’s designed to make the entire vise spin, you are getting the feature of adjusting the pitch of its angle. There’s a little hex screw adjustment which you can fix with the hex wrenches. Keep the pitch of the vise straight or can angle it up according to your need. You can also adjust the tension by screwing down the knob that locks the vise head in place or can back it off to spin it freely. Very smooth.

Furthermore, you’ll find a little spot near the jaw for material’s clip. It is included so that you can add a little knob there if you please. Inserting a hook on the device is very easy use-Simply take your vise, squeeze the lever and insert the hook in the vise and it’ll hold your hook very securely. There’s a groove installed inside the jaw which makes your larger hook’s holding or fitting firm.

Moreover, it has got a very heavy bronze pocket base that literally weighs a couple of pounds. So very reliable even when you’re tying on the table. Luckily, it has got a little magnet on its body section where you can attach tools- hooks or flies. For example- if you’re tying up a big batch of flies and want to put some hooks or beads clung on there, you can do so.

Better still, the pockets in the pedestal base are made to hold beads, hooks or materials like that. I personally use this vise and hence, without any doubt, can admit that it’s one of the most solid and featured vises I’ve ever held or worked with. Not to mention, it’s also in my bag of favorites.

\Norvise is another proud name in the realm of fly tying vise industries. Nor-Vise Fly Tying System is among the best creations of Norvise. It’s not just a tying vise, it’s a complete tying system which has come with a fully different idea, different from the traditional notion.

The major advantages, that have ranked this vise as one of the top models amidst the crowd, include smooth rotation, cam-jaws, the bobbin post and the automatic bobbin. This system also accompanies the feature of having exchangeable jaws which can be changed in less than 30 seconds.

Perfect dubbing was never so easy. But using this system, you can do it by following some simple steps. Firstly, string the thread over to the second post and let go of the bobbin. Then touch the dubbing to your thread and finally finish the process by spinning the vise. That’s it. So, there’s not much ado about dubbing loops or using special tools.

Coupled with the automatic bobbin that retracts excess thread, the system seems magical. After watching the professionally prepared 1 hour DVD Video where all instructions regarding setup and operating the device is presented very minutely, tying flies will be a child’s play to you.

Seems a little bit pricey but don’t forget, you are buying more than just a name. Its unique usability won’t remind you of previous versions. I’ve purchased this model a decade ago and never thought of another vise though I changed its jaws several times during my long years of usage. But without this jaw-altering, nothing is less appreciable about it. Verily, it’s a no regret deal. Seriously a great buy!

This Stonfo Transformer is the expensive one from our top 10 list of best fly tying vises but we have included this for great reason you can’t ignore. The main advantage of this high end device is you can transform the jaws from in-line vise to tube-fly vise or streamer vise with a single click on the shaft.

Its Interchangeable jaws, adjustable & smooth rotary function make this vise unique than other items. Do you need to lock position at any angle? It includes a Shaft which helps you locking position in 45° angle.I’m really impressed with the vice so far.

The jaws are extremely slim, the rotary operation is smooth and the add-ons are useful. Only downside is, cover is made of plastic even though there is a metal heavy base underneath. But I should note that the plastic in no way affects the vice function. It just cheapens the look of the vice somewhat.

The Dyna King Barracuda is a stunning, high precision stainless steel fly tying vice. My first encounter with the Barracuda was at a Fly Fishing Exhibition in Canada. Amazed by the craftsmanship and apparent smoothness of the rotation, I purchased the vice and had it air mailed back home.The Dyna-King Barracuda is a mid priced rotary vice, available in c-clamp and pedestal versions and aimed at the serious fly tyer.

I was very much looking forward to trying this vice for myself and was happy the day the postman knocked on my door.The Barracuda was well packed and everything was neatly arranged in polystyrene and came package with an instructional DVD.

After flicking through the American DVD, assembly was a breeze and in minutes I had the vice fully built and sat on my bench ready to take the first hook.The vice has a similar look to the Lazerri Orion but I somewhat prefer this Kings style.

The build is first class and it looks as the the vice would last a lifetime. It sits proudly on the desk and is rock solid. The base is superb and although I use a felt mat I’m sure it wouldn’t damage my table. I’m sure if you heated the Dyna-King base you could easily iron with the smoothness and weight of the 2.5 kg of metalwork.

I bought the vice with ‘midge jaws’ to take smaller hooks but there is no problem with grip with the Barracuda with a wide range of hook sizes.I have tied Bucktail Streamer Pike flies on size 6’s and 8s up to intricate, miniature dry flies on size 20s with no trouble whatsoever.The Dyna-King is smooth and silky in rotation and an absolute joy to use.

My opinion is the Dyna-King Barracuda vice is an incredibly good tool, rock solid, precision made fly tying vice.The noble Barracuda is the king of vices and guaranteed to last a lifetime out living many cheaper vices and it’s the perfect gift to pass on to your grandchildren.

The Danica DanVise is a mid priced C-Clamp, rotating fly tying vice.Out of the box the first thing I noticed about the Danica DanVise is it’s very light due to a composite Delrin construction I’m used to solid metal vices and I was a little worried at first about the overall build.The vise is packaged with a good sized bag of bits and pieces including parts and springs and an instructional DVD

Highlighted Features:

Once mounted the vice sits very well and has a sleek, black stealthy look. The rotational components are superb. Tension can be adjusted to suit by adjusted tow knobs at the back of the vice. Rotation is with a turning handled and is nice, smooth and easy.

The jaws are well made from high tempered steel loaded the vice jaws with a hook and started to tie a simple spider on a size 12 hook.The jaws hold firm and tight.

As I was building the vice it came across to me this is a revolutionary piece of fly tying kit. The C-Clamp is solid and grips the table extremely well despite is light construction.

Bobbin cradle/rest which also doubles as wire holder to hold bobbin in place during wrapping

C-clamp for secure attachment to edge of table top surface

Spring material clamp to hold materials in place that aren’t being used in the step that you’re executing

Left Handed jaw bracket for lefties

Free DVD describes jaw adjustment and vise set-up

Assembly is a little tricky and took me about 5 minutes to get the vice together. The DVD is very informative with detailed assembly instructions and the whole build took place on the desk beneath my monitor.

The first problem I encountered with the DanVise was the bobbin weight pulled down the head. It took a few tighter turns to secure it. The vice doesn’t seem to have the adjustment bite of a metal counterpart but once nipped up it stayed put. Applying the hackles was a little tricky as there is a smaller amount of space between the jaws and the handle then I’m used too and this became more apparent as I whipped in a small tail. I’m sure with time a fly tier would get used to this.

Overall the Danica DanVise is good buy for a first time fly tyer. The sleek design combined with the inline rotation system is winner. It’s light enough to carry to the bank but strong enough to use as at home.With a price point to suit a beginner or intermediates pocket, the Danica DanVise comes highly recommended

How to Select the Top Fly Tying Vise?

There’re many types of fly tying vises on the market today, each presents extensive options and characteristics. Choosing a vise around your budget and requirement is difficult, especially if you’re novice in this sector. Whether you are tying flies for saltwater or freshwater species, if a vise cannot hold the hook effectively or securely that is worthless.So, what is the conclusion? What features and things are important to look in a vise?

Do You Need Rotary / Non Rotary Fly Tying Vise?

Ted Leeson and Jim Schollmeyer mentioned in their book “The Benchside Introduction to Fly Tying”-A rotary vise is not necessary for all to tie. That should not be a decisive factor. Even less so for someone who is going to buy their first vise.Of course, if we can have a rotary vise it will be better, but we would always have to evaluate other aspects above this feature in the event of a “tie “(Quality of jaws, price …).Personally, and after my short experience, I would recommend rotary because it certainly offers comfort when performing certain operations: the typical “hairdresser”, the application of lacquers or resins, or simply to make sure that the fly is performing with the expected “symmetry”.

Pedestal or C-Clamp?

Or what is the same, pedestal or C-Clamp? Which option is most suitable for holding the hook? Preferably, a clamp which offers both options. And I’m happy with the advice, eh? In fact it is the obvious answer, because it gives us greater possibilities to adjust the work place to our liking. The main advantage of the C-Clamp is just that of anchoring firmly in a fixed position the fly to the table, ideal when the work place is fixed. If this is not the case, it is advisable to use a base / pedestal that we can place where it suits us at any moment (moving or temporarily removing the vise).

Clamps

Here there are two large groups, those of direct attachment and those of dock. In the first separation between the two ends of the jaw can be fixed by a screw, so that when the lever is closed, the minimum pressure necessary to firmly hold the hook is reached without forcing them. If the vice is of quality, it is a reliable and durable system.

The second group of jaws, the spring type, function as a “standard” clamp. The clamp is closed and pressure must be exerted on a lever to open them. Insert the hook and release the lever to lock it. Its use is simpler, as it does not need pre-adjustments according to the size of the hook.What clamp to choose? Actually this is more a matter of tastes … the reality is that the quality of the steel of the same is what must be taken into account, so that they do not dry up to the minimum of change.

Budget

You consider that the budget is important to be as low as possible, because we do not know very well how this art will be given to us, and the continuity That we can give you (and I warn you that the danger of ending up being addicted is quite high).

After intensive research in search of the best value-for-money relationship, and focusing on the opinions read on both sides of the argument, I think we can find these very good alternatives in affordable price ranges. The network is full of “reviews”, so I save the details of each one of them and I get to the point with the definitive list of “my candidates” during the analysis and pre-purchase stage.

Conclusion

Although tying fly seems complicated task, it’s actually the process of putting together of the materials in a hook in an orderly way and a great fly tying vise will make this so much more enjoyable! In fact I’m sure you will find it will become your new favorite hobby – I sure did! By following some step-by-step guides anyone can learn how to form a knot in a piece of thread. You needn’t even be a fly fisherman, though it certainly helps. Image how great you will feel rigging up your line and knowing your fly was personally made by yourself.